Ohio State and Jim Tressel: Who Wins the Big Ten If OSU Goes on Probation?

Hey, remember those lazy, crazy days when Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel held a press conference on March 9 to address the burgeoning story that he might have known about his players receiving extra benefits and potentially being ineligible to play? No big deal, said Tressel and the Ohio State muckety-mucks.

Heck, when Ohio State president G. Gordon Gee was asked if he considered firing Tressel after learning of the cover up, his response was, "No, are you kidding me? ... I'm just hoping the coach doesn't dismiss me."

Yeah. That attitude might not be working out so well for the scarlet and gray. On Friday, the NCAA released a Notice of Allegations against Ohio State, demonstrating its seriousness in pursuing the allegations against the coach and the school.

You can read much more about the development here, but it's clear that Ohio State could be facing stiffer punishment from the NCAA than its self-imposed five-game ban for the players and the coach. While we won't know for some time what the punishment will be, it can't hurt to at least take a mental walk through the B1G conference and think about what effect a USC-style suspension would have.

Minnesota

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MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 18: Da'Jon McKnight #6 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown during the game against the USC Trojans on September 18, 2010 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie

As a member of the Legends division, Minnesota doesn't get any help from Leaders division member Ohio State going on suspension. The Gophers will still have to fight their way through a full-strength division to even reach the inaugural B1G title game, and given that they are breaking in a new coach and coming off a rough year, that seems unlikely.

OHIO STATE'S PROBATION WOULD HELP: Marginally, at best.

Indiana

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COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 9: Quarterback Ben Chappell #4 of the Indiana Hoosiers drops back to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

While the Hoosiers are division-mates with Ohio State, Indiana is still a ways off from competing for a division or a conference title. A weakened Ohio State makes its life a little simpler, but Indiana's season will likely look about the same regardless of a suspension or not.

OHIO STATE'S PROBATION WOULD HELP: Marginally, perhaps helping in one game only.

Purdue

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COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 23: Quarterback Sean Robinson #10 of the Purdue Boilermakers runs with the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Like Indiana, the Boilermakers share a division home with Ohio State. But also like Indiana, Purdue is not likely to be in a position where it can take advantage of the Buckeyes' misfortune. Getting a weakened Ohio State will help on that game day but likely not change Purdue's 2011 future dramatically.

OHIO STATE'S PROBATION WOULD HELP: Marginally, the same as Indiana.

Illinois

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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 20: Nathan Scheelhasse #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini runs against the Northwestern Wildcats during a game played at Wrigley Field on November 20, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. Illinois defeated Northwestern 48-27. (Photo by Jonath

The Illini are an up-and-coming team in the B1G conference, and they are division-mates with Ohio State. A probation would mean a weakened Buckeye team for at least one game, and if Illinois were to make a run in 2011, the door would be opened wider with Ohio State's stumble.

OHIO STATE'S PROBATION WOULD HELP: Marginally. The opportunity might be there, but Illinois still has a ways to go before contending for a title.

Northwestern

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EVANSTON, IL - OCTOBER 23: Head coach Pat Fitzgerald of the Northwestern Wildcats encourages his team as they take on the Michigan State Spartans at Ryan Field on October 23, 2010 in Evanston, Illinois. Michigan State defeated Northwestern 35-27. (Photo

The Wildcats are a well-coached team with enough athletes to be dark-horse contenders in a given year. But Northwestern and Ohio State are in different division, and the Buckeyes are not on Northwestern's schedule this year. Thus, the only advantage Northwestern would gain is if it won the Legends division and faced a weakened Leaders champion.

OHIO STATE'S PROBATION WOULD HELP: Marginally. There are a lot of "ifs" for the Purples to get help from Ohio State's misfortune.

Michigan State

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Michigan State Spartans warms up during the Capitol One Bowl against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Florida Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The Spartans are the defending co-champions of the conference but put their 2010 record up with a number of close victories. They were also eviscerated by Alabama in the Capital One Bowl. Michigan State and Ohio State are not in the same division and do not play each other this season, so Michigan State is in Northwestern's boat in regards to getting help from Ohio State's problems.

OHIO STATE'S PROBATION WOULD HELP: Marginally. The Spartans are probably more likely division champions than the Wildcats, but there are still a lot of "ifs" there.

REVISION NOTE: My error, Michigan State does play Ohio State on October 01. That would mean the probation would be a little more help, but doesn't change where the Spartans fall on the list. 

Iowa

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IOWA CITY, IA - NOVEMBER 20: Running back Marcus Coker #34 of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes drives the ball past linebacker Ross Homan #51 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second half of play at Kinnick Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Iowa City, I

Stop me if you've heard this one. Iowa and Ohio State are not divisional rivals and do not face each other in 2011. Therefore, the only help for Iowa from an Ohio State probation would be in a championship game against a hypothetically weakened opponent.

OHIO STATE'S PROBATION WOULD HELP: Marginally. Iowa and Michigan State have about an equal shot at a division title.

Penn State

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Wide receiver Derek Moye #6 of the Penn State Nittany Lions lines up for play against the Florida Gators January 1, 2010 in the 25th Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The Nittany Lions bring back a solid, if not spectacular, team for 2011. But they are division-mates with Ohio State, and a Buckeye probation could open the field up significantly for Penn State to win the Leaders division and appear in the inaugural B1G title game.

OHIO STATE'S PROBATION WOULD HELP: Significantly. An Ohio State suspension could make the November 26 game against Wisconsin at Camp Randall a default Leaders division title game.

Nebraska

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LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 26: Rex Burkhead #22 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers slips past Jimmy Smith #3 of the Colorado Buffaloes during their game at Memorial Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Colorado 45-17 (Photo by Eric Fr

Last year, Nebraska's farewell tour through the Big 12 was marred with fan-stoked stories of a conspiracy by the conference to make sure the Cornhuskers did not win the conference title in their final season. After weathering that nonsense for a season, folks in Lincoln cringed to learn that Tressel and the suspended players would return for their sixth game of the season...against Nebraska.

OHIO STATE'S PROBATION WOULD HELP: Significantly, at least to avoid any "B1G Conspiracy" talk in 2011.

Wisconsin

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Running back John Clay #32 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs during the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California

On the field, the Badgers probably would gain the most from an Ohio State probation. Ohio State and Wisconsin were the two teams tabbed as most likely to contend for the Leaders division crown, so a Buckeye probation would likely grease the skids for the Badgers to book a trip to Indianapolis in early December.

OHIO STATE'S PROBATION WOULD HELP: Dramatically. The Leaders division would likely be Wisconsin's for the winning.

Michigan

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ANN ARBOR, MI - APRIL 16: Denard Robinson #16 of the Michigan Wolverines drops back to pass during the annual Spring Game at Michigan Stadium on April 16, 2011 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

This one's not even close. Never mind that Michigan has a new coach and a renewed confidence in returning to national relevance. We're talking about Michigan and Ohio State, for crying out loud.

Even if Michigan went 1-11 in 2011, if the Wolverines got a chance to end their drought against the Buckeyes on the football field and watch their hated rivals be humiliated nationally, it would be a successful season.

OHIO STATE'S PROBATION WOULD HELP: Indescribably. Schadenfreude, thy name is college football rivalry.

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